Deborah Kendrick commentary: Americans with Disabilities Act has done much; more is needed

Saturday

Jul 27, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 28, 2013 at 11:22 AM

Each of us has birthdays that stand out in memory. That magical morning at age 10 when your parents gave you the bike you had been dreaming of for weeks. The surprise party at age 30. But we each also have more such occasions that blur in memory, marked by a few good wishes, calls or humorous cards.

Each of us has birthdays that stand out in memory. That magical morning at age 10 when your parents gave you the bike you had been dreaming of for weeks. The surprise party at age 30. But we each also have more such occasions that blur in memory, marked by a few good wishes, calls or humorous cards.

This “birthday” or anniversary, the 23rd, of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act into law on July 26, 1990, seems to be one of those blurrier occasions. It is a birthday that simply marks time without memorable milestone or fanfare.

Certainly, much has changed in 23 years. The physical changes are the most apparent: Newer construction typically includes zero-step entrances or ramps or elevators. Grab bars in public restrooms are commonplace.

Public facilities from art museums to concert halls exhibit some awareness of their patrons with sensory disabilities, offering assistive listening devices to patrons with hearing impairments or audio-described tours to patrons with visual limitations.

Our attitudes have made definite progress in 23 years, as well. We don’t talk about "cripples” or “defectives” any more, for sure, and most of us have the sensitivity to feel a part of the collective success when a political candidate or celebrity is noted as having a physical or sensory difference. We’ve cleaned up our language in naming agencies and referring to specific individuals with disabilities.

At the birth of the ADA 23 years ago, giddiness and genuine joy were palpable. Where is that joy on the 23rd birthday?

While progress is undeniable, there is still a definite need to revive some of that hope for future possibility.

Seventy percent of working-age Americans with disabilities remain unemployed or underemployed. Many are paid less than minimum wage. Many are still forced to live in institutional settings. Many are still struggling merely for educational opportunities equal to their nondisabled contemporaries.

One shining moment last month in Morocco was a kind of revival of that energy and optimism millions shared here 23 years ago. With books in chains to symbolize the significance of the treaty negotiated in Marrakesh, the almost unimaginable occurred: The World Intellectual Property Organization, a body of the United Nations, finally passed the copyright treaty that lobbyists had tried vigorously to defeat.

The purpose of this copyright treaty was to end the “book famine” for the estimated 285 million visually impaired individuals worldwide. Existing copyright laws have prevented countries from exporting books produced in alternate formats such as large print, Braille or analog and digital recordings. In Argentina, for example, where there are an estimated 50,000 books currently available in alternate formats, none could, by law, be shared with neighboring Uruguay, where there are only 4,000 available titles. The WIPO treaty simply will allow such books to be exported and shared.

While the WIPO treaty won’t actually take effect until at least 20 countries have incorporated it into domestic law, the victory last month is a huge one.

It is also just the right boost of energy and hope needed on this quieter 23rd birthday of our own Americans with Disabilities Act.

Deborah Kendrick is a Cincinnati writer and advocate for people with disabilities.

dkkendrick@earthlink.net

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